Spartans Open IIAC Action with Win

WAVERLY, IOWA – The University of Dubuque Men’s Soccer team avenged their 2011 Iowa Conference Tournament first round loss to Wartburg, a game that ended with penalty kicks, with a 2-1 victory on Saturday afternoon. After a scoreless first period, UD scored two second half goals, including the game winner with less than five minutes remaining in the game. UD is now 6-2 overall and 1-0 in the Iowa Conference. The Spartans are currently ranked #10 in the NSCAA North Region Poll released on September 18th.

After a scoreless first period in which the Spartans did not allow a shot on goal and finished with four of their own, UD wasted little time in the second half putting their imprint on the game. In the 58th minute of play, UD senior Nick McDonald (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) put the Spartans ahead with his ninth goal of the season.

After a Wartburg goal, the two teams played even for the next ten minutes before McDonald once again found the back of the net to put UD up 2-1. Wartburg would get one last shot on goal in the last 30 seconds of the game but keeper Jake O’Rourke (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gormon) made the save to clinch the Dubuque victory.

McDonald led the Spartans with seven shots and four shots on goal with two goals. Brandon Wiley (Mannheim, Germany/Mannheim) finished with five shots.

O’Rourke finished with five saves, all in the second half, and one goal allowed in 90 minutes of action.

UP NEXT: The Spartans will put their four game winning streak on the line on Wednesday, September 26th when they hit the road to take on Grinnell College (2-4-1) at 5:00 pm.